The Lakers Coming in: First, some housekeeping. As noted above, Pau Gasol will not play tonight due to his sore knees. Nash and Blake, of course, also remain out. There have been hints that the Lakers are looking at reinforcements at point guard while Nash and Blake heal up. The options are slim, but doing their due diligence would be wise simply because they could use some help in that area.

In the past couple of weeks, the Lakers have replaced their consistently inconsistent play with consistently poor play; what used to be an up and down team is now only down. They are 3-7 in their last 10 games and are only 4-8 under Mike D’Antoni. What was once a respectable defense, at least in terms of defensive efficiency, is plummeting quickly, now ranking 15th in points allowed per possession. And while their offense remains firmly in the top 10, we’re also seeing less ball and player movement in recent games with only Kobe’s individual scoring prowess propping up their points per game.

As I said after the Cavs game, the model the Lakers are using now is broken. They’re not playing with nearly enough effort or energy, especially on the defensive side of the ball. With three of their top eight players out of the rotation, they can not afford to play a relaxed brand of basketball for even a quarter, but that’s exactly what we’re seeing for stretches even longer than that. At some point, this team needs to look in the mirror and simply decide that they’ve had enough of how they’re playing and change their approach. After the Cavs game, Kobe and Dwight (and several other players) spoke in tones and terms that reflect an understanding that they know what needs to be done. They must now turn their talk into action.

The Knicks Coming in: If you watch the Knicks play, you’re likely to see what you thought you would get from the Lakers this season. The ball moves, the shots fall, and there is a confidence that they can win every game. This team knows that they are good and go out there and prove it to you through executing on offense and doing enough on defense to win them games.

In the middle of their offensive attack is Carmelo Anthony, the National Team version. With Amar’e Stoudemire out with injury, ‘Melo has slid up to play PF and the results have been fantastic. He’s taking bigger defenders out on the floor and either shooting his jumper or driving by his man to get good shots close to the rim. With the defense collapsing around him, he’s also moving the ball well to open teammates and they’re either hitting shots or attacking the off the dribble and making good reads to further put the defense on it’s heels.

To put it simply, they’re playing good team basketball where everyone seems to know and understand their role. They are deep, talented, and have bought in to what their coach wants. They spread the floor with shooters (Jason Kidd, JR Smith, Novak, Felton, Melo) and then make the defense pay with ball movement to the open man. In a nutshell, this team is really good, even if their defense has been slipping lately.

Knicks Blogs: KnickerBlogger is one of the best (and oldest) team sites around. Check them out for great analysis. Also check out Posting and Toasting for more good takes on this team.

Keys to game: The Knicks are undefeated at home (8-0). The Lakers are one of the worst road teams in the league (2-7). Just from this standpoint, the Lakers are in for a difficult challenge.

The Lakers’ biggest concern tonight should revolve around their defense. As noted above, the Knicks have the 2nd most efficient offense in the league and it’s predicated on exploiting mismatches and moving the ball to the open man. They make the defense rotate multiple times in a single possession and then make shots from beyond the arc when that final closeout is late. The Lakers, meanwhile, don’t like to rotate on defense. They don’t like to make the extra effort, they don’t like cover for each other, they don’t like do the dirty work that comes with guarding multiple passes in a single possession.

Tonight, if they don’t do better at this, they will get blown out. The Knicks will make open jumpers and they will punish you with the same action over and over until you prove you can stop it. Then, to be sure, they’ll try again. The Lakers guards and wings must be ready to slow down dribble penetration, the bigs must be ready to hedge and recover, and the back side defender (whoever it is) must be ready to help the helper. Defending well in the halfcourt is especially important since the Knicks only run selectively.

When the Lakers have the ball, they must do more than give the ball to Kobe or Dwight and stand there. Against the Cavs, the Lakers eschewed the P&R to play more post up and isolation basketball and it didn’t work. Too many times the ball was dumped into Dwight or Kobe in the post (or, for Kobe, on the wing) and everyone watched as one of them tried to beat his man one on one. The lack of ball and player movement allowed the defense to dig in, squeeze the paint, and force live ball turnovers that were turned into easy baskets.

Moving the ball is paramount against a team that has smart defenders (which the Knicks have). It gets them thinking within a defensive possession and doesn’t allow them to dictate how a possession unfolds. As noted earlier, the Knicks are slipping on defense and a lot of that is due to good ball and player movement that forces the D to move on a string rather than allowing them to load up with Chandler covering for them on the back end. Make them choose between guarding the high post flash and the weak side corner. Make them have to help off the strong side corner and give up the open jumper. Make them have to hedge on the ball and then scurry back to Dwight as he bullies his way to the front of the rim. There will be options to exploit, but the team must seek them out, not just wait for them to materialize.

This game has also has several backstories. D’Antoni makes his return to the Garden where the team he left a season ago is playing very well since he departed. His new team is struggling and just came off what could be the worst defeat of the year. Things look dreary and the light at the end of the tunnel could just as easily be a train as it is the path to redemption. The Lakers would be wise to channel some of their frustration (and the energy that comes with playing the Garden) tonight. No one expects them to win this game, they might as well keep the world guessing.

Where you can watch: 5:00pm start time on TNT. Also listen live on ESPN Radio 710AM.

121 responses to Preview and Chat: The New York Knicks

that being said – don’t be surprised if the lakers pull one out tonight –

1. knicks guards are Felton and Jkidd – not speedsters that are going to abuse Duhon/Morris like Irving etc… have on dribble penetration which means Howard can stay at home more.

2. Howard only has to contend with Chandler – who isn’t a relentless offensive threat. or If melo goes into the post, he can switch with Hill – and Artest can take Melo outside.

3. Kobe knows he’s under the gun and will look to step up and prove he’s not a weak defender – looking for a good effort out of him on Smith.

4. Don’t let Novak or wallace go off on threes and ignite the team emotionally.

A little help from Meeks and Jamison scoring off the bench would help quiet MSG. Plus Knicks are due for their first home loss. And don’t think D’Antoni isn’t coming into this game with a little extra prep.

I’m looking forward to watching a Knicks team that, from afar, has been hugely impressive with their effort and results, particularly while playing all their games without a $100 million player.

If I had to guess, I’d expect a better early effort by the Lakers, with heavy reliance on (and minutes played by) Kobe & Dwight, which will ultimately wear them down and give way to a 4th quarter barrage that turns a close game into a blowout. Seems like the Knicks go about 9 deep right now, while the Lakers go about 2 deep….

Perhaps it’s just me our defense was not been great but didn’t our defense really start taking a nose dive when Duhon took over at PG? While Duhon runs the offense better he can’t guard anyone. Morris at least worked hard on D. Wasn’t great but I think quite a bit better then Duhon.

Damned if we do/Damned if we don’t w morris @Michael – he’s just that bad on running offense its hard to justify keeping him out there that long. That being said, Kidd and felton aren’t speedsters so dribble penetration should hopefully be a little less of an issue tonight

It’s certainly true that Morris has become a pretty good on-ball defender whereas Duhon is pretty much awful on that side of the ball, but this is our weakness right now (and pretty much the definition of any bad team): our players are good at one thing, bad at another. Kobe: good on offense, bad on D. AJ, often good on offense, terrible on D. Hill, good on D and offensive rebounding, but can’t shoot so defenses can swarm DH when they’re in together. Duhon, as you mentioned. Morris, the opposite problem. Pau, and let’s hope this is his injury, great in the post, mediocre from midrange, terrible on D. The closest thing we have two a two-way player right now is MWP, which says a lot. Maybe Howard as well, sort of, although his post game is incredibly unpolished (that said, I still hold out hope that he will be reborn on the offensive end running PNRs with Nash).

Tonight vs NYK: deeper into the morass… or the long awaited turning point? Do not go gentle into that good night/Rage, rage against the dying of the light! For Warren! Go Lakers! Go Lakers!

About time we see some of that defense Dwight. Anderson and Redick are playing well without him. Since he hasn’t been getting lobs from Pau or passes from a true pg off PnR he looks to be a average center. Time for Dwight to actual play like a center not a more experienced Deandre Jordan. Back down his man and jam on him. Not seeing a big difference between him and Bynum from last year.

This game tonight is critical (they all are now). In any case, we have the Wizards tomorrow on the second night of a back to back, on the road. If we drop this game to the Knicks, the Wizards game starts to have monumental importance. We lost to them last year on the road. If we were to drop these 2, it would give a whole new meaning to the term rock bottom. If there is anyone left out there – who has not pressed the panic button – please press it now : ) All of that said, I also think the Lakers will somewhat rise to the occasion tonight, so hopefully that will be enough to win this game.

This post displays the Chick Hearn influence on this site. Not one to push party lines or gloss over weaknesses, both Chick and Darius make rational and thought out arguments based on observable realities. Neither Chick nor Darius wishes badly on the team. Both clearly love the game as much as they do the Lakers.

“The Lakers, meanwhile, don’t like to rotate on defense. They don’t like to make the extra effort, they don’t like cover for each other, they don’t like do the dirty work that comes with guarding multiple passes in a single possession.”

This is the single most damning observation of our team and no amount of fan myopia, Kobe fanaticism, or other magical thinking can make this disappear. Only desire will reverse these truths. Chick Hearn is not walking into MSG to call the game for us tonight, but his legacy lives on in some of the little things that separate this site from many other Lakers blogs. Well done Darius.

The Knicks have injuries, they have had fairly recent turnover in their coaching ranks and FO controversy with things like the J Lin departure, they have a star with a selfish reputation who dominates the ball, and yet somehow the results are different.

As long as Kobe is chicken from the get go and egg later in the contest and only, if egg is needed
I think/hope we’ll be fine tonight.
Also for some reason I think Gasol can, go tonight, but being a TNT night, ain’t no way he wants part of this. His mental is weaker than his knees. And I’m also hoping for some sort of normal rotation tonight.

Robert, you should check out the link that Aaron posted in the previous thread; I emailed you an excerpt from Zach Lowe’s piece that said the same things I (and others) have been telling you. If you are just rejecting those ideas so that you can blame everything on D’Antoni, well, then I think you are going to be in for many more unpleasant and mystifying experiences with this team.

The Lakers were built on certain premises about certain players–premises which have not been true to this point.

There has to come a time dwight sees the injured stars, kobe killing himself trying to win and being a lakers center then decide a drastic change of his mindset has to happen. He has to dominate. Wade and lebron don’t call on anyone when miami struggling, westbrook and durant don’t put the pressure on martin to win a game. At this moment this team needs a 1-2 punch. Kobe’s jabbing dwight has to drop the hook tonight.

Ahhhhh why is Jamison starting at PW? Does mike D think he is guarding Anthony? He would score 60. Problem is Metta has slide so far down this year playing one on one it might not matter. Not the coach here D but dosen’t it make more sense to start Hill on CA.

Last try on this.
If they sign West and bring in Kenyon Martin would the new bench mob Hill-West-Martin be called the Chain Gang?

Howard is best off the PNR and cleaning up around the rim. If the Lakers are just dumping it to him for post ups, then Chandler’s job will be much easier. And with no real PNR point guard that is what they are doing. For this reason I see NY taking this one. The only way I see the Lakers winning is if they go on a 3-point shooting explosion.

Get Hill in there now. Lakers are becoming the Knicks during Thomas days. Oh yea same coach also. Ok that’s it for me. Shutting my I pad down. Lakers are one old, weak team and genius MD starts Jamison, I quit,

The Lakers players cannot even complete a basic entry pass Get rid Of D’antoni Not bringing Phil back was the worst thing the front office could have done FU Jim BUSS you’re running the team In the ground

The only talent we currently have are D12, Gasol, Nash & Kobe. 2 of them being out injured. Very top heavy team, we have nothing going down along the bench. We should be beating the teams we’ve been losing to, namely the Cavs & Kings.

In our current state, without 2 of our major pieces we have no business beating the red hot Knicks and teams like this. Not that I think we’re going to suddenly morph into this super team we were supposed to be once Gasol & Nash gets back.

I’m hopeful of it working out once those 2 are back in the picture, certainly not banking on it though.

Firesale. Ship out everyone but Nash, Kobe maybe Pau and Dwight. Gets youth and picks and try to be a team like Atlanta with nothing but expirings. Lakers are diggin too deep a hole they won’t get out of.

Lakers are not winning 4 straight playoff series on the road without the best player in the nba. Lakers have the same problems as last year that won’t be fixed with the current 15 man roster. Jim’s got to sit Kobe down and tell him he’s mailing this year in and recoup some talent for next year. This team is done.

When the Lakers beat OKC in the 2010 playoffs they did it by playing VERY slow, and they had a less athletic team than they have now. OKC thrived on up tempo and making transition buckets.

Here the Lakers are getting killed by trying to play at the Knicks pace, they need to be in a dog fight, grind it, and play slow. Throw it in the post on every play. Get Kobe down there (remember Kobe’s post game he developed in 2008-09 but disappeared after Drew settled in there). In fact, this is how the Lakers need to play every game. If you can keep that pace, these run and gun teams can in fact be lulled to sleep.

Their coach however thinks you should play an up tempo offence. It’s not a coincidence that the Lakers have fallen off the map defensively since D’Antoni took over. It’s about the defence for sure, but the defence is a symptom of the offence in my opinion.

West, Baylor, Magic, Kareem, Chick, Kobe. I am sorry we all have to see what happens when you let a guy who learned basketball playing XBOX. This franchise has slid down every year in direct proportion to the amount of Jimmy involvement.

Maybe you should fire a few more scouts and hire Greeters from Wal Mark Jumbo. So disgusted I am not even calling Laker Talk Tonight.

Being a resident of NYC, it’s going to be a loooong day at work for me tomorrow having to deal with some co-workers who are rabid Knick fans.

If we continue to shame ourselves on National TV in the second half, we might as well call it an early night for the starters so that they can begin the process of preparing for the Wizards tomorrow night.

Don’t watch if you dont want this Lakers to lose. Enough said. Why keep commenting same things over and over again.

The problem is not the Lakers anymore but we fans are expecting too much from the start. I hate losing also but if one keeps on arguing things every minute of life, you’re nothing but the same with this Lakers. Consistent on not playing DEFENSE.

This team doesn’t even talk on D. EVERY time the Knicks go PnR, we just automatically switch and Dwight gets stuck guarding Felton. Duhon or Metta doesn’t even try to fight over the screen and stay with his man. Again, that’s just sheer stupidity and laziness.

This team is finished, and Mike D is just as much of a joke as Mike Brown, and sadly I never thought I say this, but probably WORSE! Mike Brown is probably sitting at his TV night after night just laughing right now. And he is still getting paid for it!

Yup. Worse than 06 and 05 too, which was the last non playoff laker team. 34-48, but lost 9 out of the last 10 to make it look worse than it was.

After tonights loss, this will be the first time the lakers have had this bad a winning percentage this far into the season since our starting lineup was van exel, christie, George lynch, elden and vlade.

Kobe made Kobe the player Stan van gundy made dwight. Dwight is not great no heart at all. Back line of defense has been poor all year. Same problems many posters were ragging on Pau for are stll happening. Dwight is content and takes no responsibility for lakers failures this year. Not a great lakers center. His body language is poor and has only played 1 full game all year. Dwight is not the superstar lakers traded for.

T. Rodgers we lost to the Cavs a loss to the Wizards would not be a surprise. I saw a glimmer of hope though, D’anthony needs to realize that this team cant run up and down the court its just not built that way, when they slowed the game down the defense and the offense improved quite a bit, thats something to built from, like tje broadcast team said, he is the one that need to adjust, this is not a team that should be jacking up 34 three pointers, what Saint Riley did after he went to NY? He changed his coaching style to the players he had, the Lakers we saw the second half are the way to go in my opinion. There is no other way this team is not fast and is not fast enough to recover defensively playing at a fast pace.

The Lakers also put more effort on playing defense too . Unfortunately they’re still a old and slow team so any player can penetrate the lane. Then Dwight has to help out and theres a open man right near the hoop.

Gary, when the Lakers get the personel they need to truly run Coach’s system then run teams of the gym by all means but he dont, like i mentioned Pat Riley himself had to reinvent himself as a coach in NY for the players he have, this is not a run n’ gun team dont get me wrong this team can run occasionally but it cant go in a Kentucky Derby race everytime all the time. It is what it is.

Gary your 100% correct on the open lanes but its not Dwight’s fault he is doing the right thing but these other idiots are not helping HIM, when Dwight goes out to help somebody need to keep tabs on his man thats basketball 101, thats not being old and slow thays being lazy. If i were D’anthony i fine them for real until they learn